Ovulation induction with follicle-stimulating hormone administration in hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata

Published source details Kawazu I., Suzuki M., Maeda K., Kino M., Koyago M., Moriyoshi M., Nakada K. & Sawamukai Y. (2014) Ovulation induction with follicle-stimulating hormone administration in hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata. Current Herpetology (formerly Acta Herpetologica Japonica 1964-1971 and Japanese Journal of Herpetology 1972-1999), 33, 88-93.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use hormones and/or other drugs during captive-breeding programmes to induce reproduction/birth Action Link

Use hormones and/or other drugs during captive-breeding programmes to induce reproduction/birth

A before-and-after study in 2006–2009 in seawater tanks in Okinawa Island, Japan (Kawazu et al. 2014) found that administering a follicle-stimulating hormone (‘FSH’) to captive female hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata resulted in ovulation and egg formation in all individuals. Following an injection of follicle-stimulating hormone, four female hawksbill turtles ovulated and formed eggshells within 2–4 days. The authors reported that none of the turtles had ovulated in captivity before. In July 2009, four sexually mature female turtles were administered the hormone ‘FSH’ via intra-muscular injection (see original paper for details). Two of the turtles were wild caught in 1996–1998 and were developing follicles/considered sexually mature from 2006 and two were bred in captivity in 1994 and were considered sexually mature from 2008. All turtles were isolated for the year prior to being injected. Turtles were monitored for signs of ovulation using ultrasound.

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)